Assessment of Effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Group Training on Self-Esteem and Achievement Motivation of High School Students

Abstract

Background: Based on researches done in recent decades, there are several therapeutic approaches to increase self-esteem and achievement motivation of students. Among these methods, we can refer to cognitive-behavioral therapy. The purpose of this research is assessment of effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral group training on self-esteem andachievement motivation of students. Methods: The research method was experimental with two- grouped pre-test and post- test design, experimental group and control group. The statistical population includes all students of high schools in Sarakhs (educational year 2012-2013). (N=85). Participants were chosen by available sampling method and randomly assigned to an experimental (15 boys) and a control group (15 boys). The experimental group received cognitive-behavioral group training through 8 sessions of 1 hour, while the control group received no training at all. For assessing the research variables, Alis Pop self- esteem questionnaire and Edwards’s achievement motivation questionnaire were done before and after completion of the trainings. The collected data were analyzed using independent and dependent T test by SPSS statistical software. Results: The study demonstrated that cognitive-behavioral training had positive effects on students’ self-esteem (P<0.001) and achievement motivation (P<0.001) in comparison to control group. Conclusions: In general, it can be concluded that cognitive- behavioral training were found effective in increasing self-esteem and achievement motivation.